The changes in the dielectric properties of absolutely dried Sitka spruce (Picea sitcliensis Carr.) wood caused b, chemical treatments were investigated. Eight kinds of chemical treatments with various levels of weight percentage gain (WPG) were performed. Through the application of the Cole-Cole circular arc law to the results of the dielectric measurements in the frequency range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz at -60degreesC, the relaxation spectrum was calculated. The relaxation magnitude (epsilon(0) - epsiloninfinity) was reduced by formalization, acetvlation, propylene oxide, and phenol-formalde-hyde resin treatments, in which chemical reactions occurred between the OH groups in the cell wall and the added reagents. On the other hand, the generalized relaxation time ((T)(m))decreased with increasing WPG, except for acetylation, for which (T)(m) decreased Lip to a WPG level of 20% and then increased. In poly(ethylene glycol) impregnation, (epsilon(O) - epsilon(infinity)) decreased with increasing WPG Lip to about 50% and then increased, whereas (T)(m) linearly decreased with increasing WPG. No significant changes in these parameters were recognized for the wood methyl methacrylate composite and heat treatment. With the steam treatment, (T)(m) increased. The distribution of the relaxation times was broad in acetylation and narrow in propylene oxide treatment and poly(ethylene glycol) impregnation. However, it remained almost unchanged in the other treatments. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.